Clare-Gladwin Area School awarded grant to create a garden at the John C. Magnus Center

 Throughout the 2014-2015 school year, the 
Construction Trades students from the 
Clare-Gladwin Career Center 
have renovated Verna's House to make
 it handicapped accessible for the
 Clare-Gladwin Area School students 
to use next school year. 

The Lowe’s Charitable and Education Foundation (LCEF) has awarded the Clare-Gladwin Area School the Lowe’s Toolbox for Education grant in the amount of $4,120 to create a garden at Verna’s House – the home located on the property of the John C. Magnus Center, owned by Clare-Gladwin RESD. The grant was secured by Vicki Longnecker, an Area School paraeducator and job coach.

Beginning in the fall of 2015, the school will be using Verna’s House for students to practice daily living skills such as cooking, cleaning, meal planning, and budgeting. The garden project will not only enhance the development of those skills, but it will also integrate elements of the Common Core Curriculum. Students will be using math and science to plot the layout of the garden and calculate the number of plants and seedlings needed. Students will also be researching various vegetables and the effects the weather pattern has on certain crops.

According to Longnecker, an additional benefit of the garden will be the opportunity to give back to the community. “The students will be donating some of the food from the garden to the local food pantries and will be inviting members of the local communities to help with the gardens,” she said. “Planting a garden, producing a crop, and sharing the rewards of their work with others will give these children a great sense of accomplishment. What better way is there to teach a sense of community while supporting independence than to grow your own food to share?”

The Clare-Gladwin Area School is a program of Clare-Gladwin RESD.

CTE student selected as Technical Education Award recipient

Sines (left) accepts the Technical Education Award from
Carol Santini of Mid Michigan Community College.

Clare-Gladwin Career Center student Alexis Sines has been awarded the Technical Education Award from Mid Michigan Community College valued at $500. Sines participated in both the Education in Training and Graphic Arts career and technical education (CTE) programs during her junior and senior years at Clare High School. She was also an active member in The Officials, the Graphic Arts program’s student leadership group whose mission is to offer their time and talents to the local communities, such as providing free design and printing work for local non-profit organizations.

Sines plans to attend Mid Michigan Community College to earn an associate’s degree, and then go on to obtain a bachelor’s degree in education. Ultimately, she would like to teach art in a public school setting.

The Clare-Gladwin Career Center, a program of Clare-Gladwin RESD, provides career and technical education offerings to local high school juniors and seniors. Students spend half of their school day in their CTE program and the other half at their local high school.   

CTE student selected as Breaking Traditions Award winner

Heather Baker, a Culinary Arts student at the Clare-Gladwin Career Center, is one of 22 high school

students from across the state to receive the 2015 Michigan Department of Education (MDE) Breaking Traditions Award for surpassing obstacles and stereotypes to achieve success in Career and Technical Education (CTE) programs.

According to State Superintendent Mike Flanagan, "The Breaking Traditions Awards recognize high school and college students who have demonstrated success in CTE programs that are nontraditional to their gender. At a time when there is a call from various stakeholders for building a more-responsive, market-driven schools-to-jobs pipeline, it is important to recognize the efforts of these students and the programs that helped them."

Baker, also a senior at Gladwin High School, was nominated for the recognition by Culinary Arts Instructor Heidi Rocha. “Heather consistently goes above and beyond in everything that she does. Her ability to enter the workforce is outstanding.”

Baker accepted the award at a ceremony at the Library of Michigan in Lansing this month.

"These outstanding students are preparing themselves to enter a career that will benefit them individually and benefit Michigan by increasing diversity in our state's workforce." Flanagan said. "By their determination and dedication to pursuing careers in an area nontraditional for their gender, they are role models for peers who may be considering such a career path."

Baker plans to attend Northwood University to earn a degree in business while continuing her apprenticeship with Chef Fred Garcia of the Lost Arrow Resort. Once she obtains a business degree, Baker would like to further her skills at a culinary arts college, such as the Culinary Institute of America, and eventually own a restaurant.

Culinary Arts is a career and technical education (CTE) program offered to high school juniors and seniors at the Clare-Gladwin Career Center. The students spend half of their day at their CTE program and the other half at their local high school.

Local students celebrated at Turn-Around Achievement Awards

The 2015 Turn-Around Achievement Award Recipients
Photo Credit: Bob Frei

Twenty students from ten local high schools were recognized at the 10th annual Clare-Gladwin Area School Board Association’s Turn-Around Achievement Awards on May 7. Held at Mid Michigan Community College, community leaders in education celebrated the accomplishments of local high school students who have made a positive and significant change in their lives during their high school careers despite extreme personal or academic struggles.

The Keynote Speaker at the awards ceremony was Lindsay Golden, an admissions specialist at Mid Michigan Community College. Originally from Clare, Golden revealed the series of poor decisions she made during her teen years that ultimately led to her dropping out of high school and making choices that threatened her well-being. “At that point, I was the worst possible version of myself,” she said. “It was then I decided I couldn’t live like that anymore.” Golden’s revelation resulted in her returning to school and working around the clock so she could graduate with her class. Today, Golden holds an associate’s degree from Mid Michigan Community College and is working toward her bachelor’s. “What you have accomplished is a big deal,” Golden said, addressing the students. “You should be so proud of yourselves.”

As the awards were presented, tears of joy were shared by both the students and the teachers as they reflected on their journeys to success. “As an educator, you hope to make an impact on students’ lives,” said Lori Taylor, Clare High School teacher. “But I didn’t expect for the students to make such an impact on mine.”

Many award recipients thanked their educators, families, and friends for their encouragement along the way.

In addition to a certificate, recipients of the Turn-Around Achievement Awards were given one of three scholarships, each of which entitles them to six credit hours of in-district tuition at MMCC. The Scholarships included the Doug Dodge Academic Opportunity Award for the Beaverton, Clare, Farwell, Gladwin, and Harrison schools students; the Al Roeseler Academic Opportunity Award for the students from Coleman High School; and the Tom Gilstad Academic Opportunity Award for those attending Bullock Creek High School or Meridian High School. 

The 2015 Turn-Around Achievement Award recipients include:

Beaverton Jr/Sr High School

April Gibson

Weston Muma

Bullock Creek High School

Trae Duby

Larissa Miller

Clare High School

Christopher Delong

Marissa MacDonald

Clare Pioneer High School

Emanueal Butts

Coleman Jr/Sr High School

Zachary Harris

Shyanne Loggie

Farwell High School

Kailyn Brugger

Travis Smith

Farwell Timberland High School

Joe Elsie

Gladwin High School

Donna Canfield

Blake Roggow

Harrison High School

Devon Barron

Joshua Veite

Harrison Alternative High School

Christopher Hoefling

Bradley Walsh

Meridian High School

Kayla Callahan

Devin Wood

CTE students tour Mid Michigan Children's Museum

The Clare Gladwin Career Center’s Education in Training students recently toured the Mid Michigan Children's Museum in Saginaw. The future educators explored the museum's exhibits and discussed what children learn as they play. They were also informed of the future volunteer opportunities for them at the museum. Additionally, the students participated in activities with patrons of the museum. 

Education in Training is a career and technical education (CTE) class offered to high school juniors and seniors through the Clare-Gladwin Career Center, a program of Clare-Gladwin RESD. The students spend half of their day at their CTE program and the other half at their local high school.

Clare-Gladwin Area School receives Michigan Community Action Award

The Clare-Gladwin Area School, a program of Clare-Gladwin RESD, received a Michigan Community Action Award on April 30 at the Capitol in Lansing in recognition of the school’s acts of service to the region as a result of a twenty-year partnership with Mid Michigan Community Action Agency.  For the last two decades, groups of student volunteers from the Area School have helped Mid Michigan Community Action Agency pack boxes for food programs, assisting the agency in keeping up with the local food security needs. With the students’ dedication, the agency packs 400-800 boxes daily.

Also known as the RESD Packing Crew, the Area School and its students are one five Michigan Community Action Award recipients selected statewide for 2015. Five staff members and six students from the Area School traveled to Lansing last month to accept the award in the Rotunda of the Capitol.

“It was a once in a lifetime opportunity to be recognized for all the hard work that the students and staff have done for more than 20 years,” said Area School Principal Mike Simon. “I would also like to thank Sharla Mitchell of Mid Michigan Community Action Agency for her work with our students and for nominating us for the award.”

Criminal Justice students place third at Delta College Skill Day

The career and technical education (CTE) Criminal Justice students of the Clare-Gladwin Career Center, a program of Clare-Gladwin RESD, recently placed third overall at the 10^th annual Delta College Criminal Justice Skill Day.

During the event, students competed against their peers from around the state in a physical agility contest in which they had to complete a half-mile shuttle run, a vertical jump, and as many as push-ups and sit-ups as possible in one minute. Student Elaina Wolfe placed third among the female participants and Tommy Nunnally placed third among the male participants.

The high school juniors and seniors also revealed their understanding of the criminal justice field by taking part in knowledge-based game called, “Survey Says.” The Clare-Gladwin team consisting of Ian Hasenfratz, Hope Macklem, and Elaina Wolfe placed third.

Congratulations to the Clare-Gladwin CTE Criminal Justice students:

Nick Benore

Aloria Benson

Madison Crowl

Juliet Dean

 Brad Gallagher

Cristina Gardner

Megan Garver

Jeremy Goheen

 Ian Hasenfratz

Danelle Kource

David Lingaur

Hope Macklem

 Mikayla McKimmy

Frank Michalski

Neil Moldenhauer

Thomas Nunnally

Mariah Penix

Alexis Petrik

Kyla Shannon

Aaryn Shook

Randy Taylor

Milena Toupin

Dustin Trevillian

Olivia Walworth

Elaina Wolf

Criminal Justice is one of nine career and technical education (CTE) programs offered to high school juniors and seniors at the Clare-Gladwin Career Center. The students spend half of their day at their CTE program and the other half at their local high school.

April is Autism Awareness Month; Local families attend Sensory Friendly Family Movie Day

April is Autism Awareness Month and close to 70 people from four area counties recently attended the third annual Sensory Friendly Family Movie Day at Celebration Cinema in Mount Pleasant; organized by the early childhood partners of the Clare-Gladwin and Gratiot-Isabella Great Start Collaboratives.  

With the sound turned down and the lights turned up, Sensory Friendly Family Movie Day offered local families affected by autism and other sensory sensitivities the chance to spend a day at the theater while being free to walk around and talk as they wished. Everyone in attendance received free admission, free popcorn, and a free beverage as they watched the movie, “Big Hero 6.”

“The Sensory Friendly Family Movie Day was a big success,” said Julie White, Autism Spectrum Disorder Consultant at Clare-Gladwin RESD. “It’s a wonderful opportunity for families to relax, be themselves, and just have fun together.”

Officers from the Michigan State Police, Mount Pleasant Police Department, and the Isabella County Sheriff’s Department greeted families with a sticker and a smile as they arrived at the theater. Additionally, players on the Beaverton Rural Schools Varsity Football Team also volunteered to get refreshments ready for movie attendants and showed families to their seats. 

Area professionals help local students develop career skills during Mock Interview Day

State Representative Joel Johnson conducts interviews during
Mock Interview Day. 

More than 200 high school students from Clare, Gladwin, and Isabella counties recently practiced job interviews and had their resumes critiqued during this year’s Mock Interview Day; an annual event presented by a committee representing Central Michigan University, Clare-Gladwin RESD, Gladwin County Economic Development Corporation, Manitowoc Foodservice, Middle Michigan Development Corporation, Michigan Works! 7B Consortium, and MSU Extension.

Clare County Sheriff John Wilson interviews a student
during Mock Interview Day.

High school juniors and seniors from Beal City, Beaverton, Clare, Farwell, Gladwin, Harrison, and Shepherd gathered at Central Michigan University’s Bovee Center to strengthen those essential career competencies with guidance from approximately 65 area professionals who volunteered their time to conduct the interviews and critiques. Informational workshops were also offered by Bandit Industries, Inc. and MSU Extension covering topics including job etiquette, interview skills, budgeting, and proper interview attire.

Brent Mishler of Mid Michigan Community College
participates in Mock Interview Day. 

“After today, I feel like I could go into an interview with confidence,” said a student participant. Another student commented, “I really enjoyed this experience. It will help me in the future and I think a lot of kids should experience it too.”

Mock Interview Day 2015 was made possible by generous contributions from the following organizations:

Heather Harris of Bandit Industries, Inc. offered
educational sessions for students.

• Manitowoc Foodservice  
• Mitsuba
• Future Mold
• Highland Plastics, Inc. 
• Michigan Works! Region 7B Consortium 
• Mid Michigan Human Resource Association
• MidMichigan Health
• Burkhart-Presidio Insurance
• Clare-Gladwin RESD
• StageRight Corporation